Dinamo Zagreb have booked their place in the third qualifying round of the Champions League following a dramatic victory over Thun, with their next opponents now confirmed. The result also guarantees the Zagreb club a ninth successive European autumn, with at least a place in the Conference League already secured.
Dinamo to face Kauno Žalgiris
Dinamo will face Lithuanian champions Kauno Žalgiris in the third qualifying round after Željko Sopić’s side edged out Faroe Islands champions KÍ Klaksvík across two legs. The first leg ended goalless, before Žalgiris claimed a 1-0 victory in the return fixture thanks to a goal in the 85th minute from former Hajduk player Leon Kreković. The first leg against Dinamo takes place on August 4th at Maksimir, with the return fixture scheduled for August 11th in Lithuania.
The comeback against Thun
Dinamo’s passage to the third round came via one of the more dramatic evenings in recent European memory. Thun raced into a 2-0 lead inside 22 minutes through Brighton Labeau and Marco Burki, and Dinamo looked helpless in the early stages. Everything changed in the 67th minute when Burki was shown a red card following a VAR intervention, and the Zagreb side took full advantage. Dion Drena Beljo leveled matters in the 74th minute before Lukas Kačavenda made it 2-2 in the 78th. The tie was forced into extra time, where Moris Valinčić produced a moment of brilliance in the 112th minute to seal a memorable 3-2 victory.
Should Dinamo overcome Žalgiris, they advance to the Champions League play-off round and secure at minimum a place in the Europa League group stage. Elimination at this stage would send them into the Europa League play-off instead. Either way, Dinamo’s European autumn is already guaranteed; even in the event of further exits, a place in the Conference League group stage awaits.
